Trump Visits Japan, Looks to Strengthen Ties and Trade
TOKYO – President Donald Trump is in Japan this week, meeting with new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss trade and security. The Prime Minister is hoping a strong personal relationship with President Trump will help ease trade disagreements between the two countries.
One idea being discussed is Japan buying a number of Ford F-150 trucks. President Trump seemed to like the idea, saying the Prime Minister has “good taste” and that the F-150 is a “hot truck.”
Prime Minister Takaichi has said she wants to continue the close relationship that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had with President Trump. She praised President Trump for helping to broker the Gaza ceasefire.
The main goal of the meetings is to find ways to make the trade relationship better. President Trump wants allies to buy more American goods and invest in factories and energy projects in the U.S.
These meetings come before President Trump is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. Both the U.S. and Japan are concerned about China’s growing economic power.
Experts say that President Trump may be trying to show how strong the U.S.-Japan relationship is before meeting with the Chinese leader.
In the past, Japan agreed to invest a large sum of money in the U.S., which led President Trump to reduce some tariffs on Japanese goods.
Japanese officials are also considering buying more American soybeans, natural gas, and cars. The idea of Ford trucks being used in Japan could be a boost for American automakers, who have long said that it is hard to sell cars in Japan.
Prime Minister Takaichi may arrange for President Trump to see the Ford trucks while he is in Japan.
President Trump is scheduled to meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and give a speech on the U.S.S. George Washington aircraft carrier. He will then travel to South Korea.
